15 But Hannah replied,“Not so, my lord! I am a woman under a great deal of stress. I haven’t drunk wine or beer. But I have poured out my soul before the LORD.
16 Don’t consider your servant a wicked woman. It’s just that, to this point, I have spoken from my deep pain and anguish.”
17 Eli replied,“Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant the request that you have asked of him.”
18 She said,“May I, your servant, find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and got something to eat. Her face no longer looked sad.
19 They got up early the next morning. Then they worshiped the LORD and returned to their home at Ramathaim. Elkanah was intimate with his wife Hannah, and the LORD called her to mind.
20 Then Hannah became pregnant. Hannah Dedicates Samuel to the LordIn the course of time she gave birth to a son. And she named him Samuel, thinking,“I asked the LORD for him.”
21 Then the man Elkanah and all his family went up to make the yearly sacrifice to the LORD and to keep his vow.
22 But Hannah did not go up with them, because she had told her husband,“Not until the boy is weaned. Then I will bring him so that he may appear before the LORD. And he will remain there from then on.”
23 Then her husband Elkanah said to her,“Do what you think best. Stay until you have weaned him. Only may the LORD fulfill his promise.” So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him.
24 Then she took him up with her as soon as she had weaned him, along with three bulls, an ephah of flour, and a container of wine. She came to the LORD’s house at Shiloh, and the boy was with them.
25 They slaughtered the bull, then brought the boy to Eli.
26 She said,“My lord. Just as surely as you are alive, my lord, I am the woman who previously stood here with you in order to pray to the LORD.
27 For this boy I prayed, and the LORD has given me the request that I asked of him.
28 So I also dedicate him to the LORD. For all the days of his life he is dedicated to the LORD.”Then he bowed down there in worship to the LORD.